Ice-cream cutter



' Mar, 6, 1923..

H.SCHOTT.

ICE CREAM QUTTER,

m5!) MAR. 1. 1922.

I N V ENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 6, 1923.

Nine; STATES HENRY SCHOTT, or 'L'oNoMEAno'w, MASSACHUSETTS.

ICE-CREAM CUTTER.-

Application filed March 1, 1022. Serial No. 540,186, I

'mechanism for operating said blades, all as hereinafter set forth.

Heretofore much difficulty has been experienced in cutting slabs of material, such as ice-cream, into sections, pieces, or cakes of uniform size, work 'of this character having been done by hand, and requiring the services of a considerable number of operators, and the primary object of my invention is to overcome this difliculty, and dispense with a considerable proportion of the operators. while at the same time producing expeditiously a greatly increasedoutput. The cakes of ice-cream cut from a slab with this machine are accurate and uniform in their dimensions,and smooth and even on all sides.

Another object is to produce a machine of the character described which consists of few parts, is simple in construction, is comparatively inexpensive, convenient to operate. and strong and durable. I

Other objects and advantages 'will appear in the course of the following description.

I attain the objects and secure theadvantages of my invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which i Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine or cutter which embodies a practical form of my invention, portions of the same being broken away and in section; Fig. 2, a transverse, vertical section th-roug-hsaid cutter, taken on lines 22, lookingin the direction of the associated arrow, in Fig. 1, this view being on a smaller scal than the preceding view, Fig. 3, an enlarged cross=section through one of the blade-holding bars and, Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the cutting blades.

Similar characters of reference designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the present veinbodiluent of "the invention, the same comprises a. bottom support or bed 1, a pair of hollow columns 3 mounted on said bed, a cross-bar 4 secured by bolts 26-'26 to said columns, a plurality of restraining members 5 depending from said cross-bar, a blade-holder 6 supported at each end on a spring 7 in one ofsaid columns, a plurality of blades 8 attachedto said blade;- holder, ajpair' of angular operating bars 9 for said blade-holder, and an operating lever 10 with which said bars are pivotally connected at 11, said lever being pivotally con+ nected at 12 with a depending bracket 13. A cap or hood 1 1 may be provided vfor the upper terminals of the restraining members 5.

The bed 1 may consist of the top, ofa bench, table, orv of some other object, such asa slab or plate. i

Each column B has 1 a. base 15 that is mounted on the bed 1 and secured thereto by means of screws 27*27. The upper portion of said column is vertically slotted through opposite. sides, as represented at 16-16. such slots being in the longitudinal, vertical plane of the machine. The spring 7 in the column bears at the bottom on the base 15 of said column, and at the top sup,-

ports a cross-bar 17, atone end thereof;

which cross-bar is below thecross-b'ar4, extends through all of the slots 16, [and forms a part of the bladeholder 6. The cross-bar 4 also extends through the slots 16-.

The restraining members ,5-,are attached at their upper terminals, by means of screws 18 and nuts 19, to the cross-bar 4, and said members are equi-dist'an-tly spaced. Each of the members 5 consists of a strip of sheetmetal bent into a generally triangular formation at the base and having upwardly-extending, parallel arms which embrace or extend both sides of the cross-bars 4 and 17, and are secured to the cross-bar 4; by means of the screws 18 and nuts 19. The base of the triangular portion of each restraining member 5 is horizontal, nd located at the crater distance above the bed 1 to receiv between it said bed "a slab of fies-cream of the required thickness. Thes -re trai ing member's prevent :the bakesof ice-c1 cut by the blades 8 from being upward y displaced when said blades are elevated, and assist in holding said cakes after they are but in place an the bed 1. besides initially serving as positionaindii f tintr. 11 156 31 if i' the said slab from which said Cakes are v The hood 14: is an open-bottom sheetmetal casing mounted on the crossbar 1, and secured at each end thereto by means of a screw 20. The hood 14; extends downwardly far enough to cover the screws 18 and nuts 19.

The blade-holder 6 comprises, with the cross-bar 1.7, two pairs of oppositely-dis posed, horizontal arms that turn downwardly at their outer terminals to form two pairs of oppositely-disposed, vertical arms, as best shown in Fig. 2. Connecting the aforesaid vertical arms on each side of the central, longitudinal, vertical plane of the machine, is a horizontal bar in which are set the blades 8. All of-the parts of the blade-holder of which mention has just been. made are integral. The blade-holder and blades may be said to constitute the knife of the machine. In each bottom bar of the blade-holder 6 is a slot 21, which slot opens through the, bottom of said member and also through the inner face of the same, as best shown in Fig. 3. These angular slots 21, in the bottom or front and rear bars of the blade-holder 6, are oppositely-disp-osed, so that any slot in the rear bar is in the same plane with one of the slots in the front bar,

and such plane is at right-angles to the central, vertical, plane of the cutter.

The blades 8 extend crosswise of the bladeholder 6 and the machine, and are received in the slots 21 in said holder. Each of the blades adjacentto eachend thereof has a holder 6 that assists in forming the slot 21 in which such end of said blade is located. The blades .8 are connected. with the bladeholder frombelow, being driven into the slots 21 in the bottom bars,of. said holder, with portions of said bars in the notches 22, the construction and arrangement of parts being'such that the blades extend below the blade-holder and project at both ends beyond the same, while the middle and wider portions 'of the blades extend upwardly in and through the narrow, vertical parts of the slots 21. The under edges of the blades are ground to. convert the blades into cutting implements.

9 1108 the blades 8 are connected with the blade holder 6 Within driving, fit, any of said blades can be driven out of such en gagement, by applying a hammer or other implement to one or both of the projecting endsv of the blade, or to the upper edge of the same, wherefore it follows that it is a comparatively simple and easy matter to remove andreplace a blade. It is occaslonally necessary to remove one ormore blades for the-purpose of sharpening the same, or in case of breakage or other damage, and subsequently to replace'the same orv another blade or blades.

The crossbar 17 is normally supported by the springs 7 at a height which retains the blade-holder 6 at a sufficient elevation to locate the blades 8 with their cutting edges above the under surfaces of the restraining members 5.

The cross-bar 17 extends through and beyond the slots 16 in the columns 3, and the operating bars 9 are connected with the protruding terminals of said cross-bar. Each bar 9 has a vertical part in the upper terminal of which is a. slot 23 to receive one terminal of the cross-bar 17. Transverse stop pins 2 1- are provided in the crossbar 17 to assist'in preventing said bar from moving longitudinally, and the operating bars 9 from moving laterally, there being one of such pins between the'slotted portion of each column 3 and the adjacent vertical part of one of the bars 9, another of such pins on the side of such slotted portion that is opposite to the side thereof where said first-mentioned pin is located, and a third pin outside of said vertical part.

The vertical parts of the operating bars 9 extend downwardly from the cross-bar 17 through openings 2l2 1 in the bed 1, and converge below said bed to meet the operat ing lever 10. Thus it is seen that the bars 9 consist of vertical and oblique parts, the inner terminals of which latter are pivot-ed at 11 to the lever 10 in ermediate of the ends thereof. i

The bracket 18 depends from the underside of the bed 1, and the rear terminal of the lever 10 is pivoted at 12 to the lower terminal of saidbracket. The lever 10 extends forwardly some distance in front of the pivot 11.

Vi henthe knife is held by the spring 7 in normalposition, the lever 10 is disposed, by theinterven ng parts and members, at an up- 6,together with the-blades 8. The amount of downward movement obtainable by this means and in this manner is sufficient to carry the blades 8 down onto the bed 1. Upon releasing the lever 10, thesprings 7 immediately act to elevatethe blade holder 6 and connected parts and members, thus restoring them to normal position and swinging saidv lever upwardly into its former or initial. position. f V i The cross-bar 17 is prevented from rock ing during the operation of the sameby the sides of the slots .16, but there isflsufficient looseness of parts and lost motion between the bars9 and said crossbar and "to be actuated the le'vr 10.

\ In practice, assuming that a slab of icebe placed on the bed 1 benath the restraining members 5, and that such slab be of a length equal to the distance from the outside edge of the restraining member at one an of thf group .to the outside edge of the other end restraining member, and of width which is less than the distance beween thetbaem bar's of the blade-midn- 6, and be located with. the ends of the slab flush ivitlithe outer edges of said end retrainin members, and within the vertical p1 iles 0% said bars, the lever 10 is depressed to actuate blade-holder downwardly and force the blades 8 through said slab from top tbi' biittomj, andthen said lever is released and said blades are withdrawn and carried upeanu above the horizontal plane of the top of the ice-cream. VVhere there was asingle slab of. ice-cream there are now nine of aqua-1 dimensions and smooth and even sid s.

cutting opration. I p c Nine cakes of ice-cream are cut at each Operation because there are nine restraining members andeight blades 8. These nun-- bets may, of course, be varied.

, More-brass change iii the size, shape, constrii'c tion, and arrangement of some or all of the parts of this be made without violating the spirit of invention or exceeding the scope of what is claimed;

WVha-t I claim as vmyjinirention, and desire to secure by Lem-farmer, is

1. The combination, in a cutter of the class described, with a support, members rising above said support, a cross bar attached to said members and a plurality of restraining members supported in spaced relationship from said bar, each of said restraining members consisting of a strip of sheet-metal bent into a generally triangular form at the base and extending upwardly to be secured to said bar, of a blade-holder provided with a plurality of blades receivable in the spaces between said restraining members, and mechanism to actuate said blade-holder to cause said blades to cut through material on said support beneath said restraining members. i

2. The combination, in a cutter of the classdesoribed, with a support, pair of hollow slotted columns, sprmgs in said columns, across bar attached tosaid columns at the top, and restraining members depending from said bar, said members being in spaced relationship, of a blade-holder having parts that extend through the slots in said columns and rest on said springs, aplurality of blades attached to said bladeholder, said blades being arranged and adapted to operate H y These bar's Of iCe Cr'eaQm: are

re oved iroiii the bed 1 and another slab placed thereon for a repetition of the aforesaid in the spaces between said restrainingmembe rs, and mechanlsm to actuate sald bladehold'er agali'ist the reslhency of sald springs to cause said blades :to cut through material on said support beneath said restraining members.

3. The combination, in a cutter of the class described, with .a support, hollow slotted columns extending above said support, springsin saidcolumns, a cross bar attached to said columns, and depending restraining members attached to said bar, said restrainmeinbers being in spaced relationship, of a blade-holder comprising a cross bar that entends above the base portions of said restraining members and into the slots in said columns rests on the springs therein, arms that extend outwardlyand downwardly from opposite sides of said second-named cross-bar, and bars connecting said arms at their bases respectively in front of and be hind saidrestraining members, a plurality of blades attached to said last-named bars and arranged and adapted to operate in the spaces between said restraining members, an operating lever pivotally connected at one end, and connecting members between the parts ofsaid blade-holder and said lever.

4. The combination, in a cutter of the c'lfss described, with a support, and restraining means abovesaid support fonmaterial on the vsame, said restraining means consisting in part ofs'pacedelements, of an upwardly spring p'reslsed jb1ade-ho1 "der comprising from and b ackj arms connected at their lower endswithifront and back bars, said bars bemg respectively in front of and behind said spaced elements, a plurality of knives attached to said bars and arranged and adapted to operate between said elements, and mechanism to actuate said blade-holder against the resiliency of the springs to cause said blades to cut through said material.

5. The combination, in a cutter of the class described, with a bed, hollow slotted columns mounted on said bed, springs in said columns, a cross-bar attached to said columns, and restraining members depending from said cross-bar and being in spaced re lationship, of a blade-holder comprising a cross-bar which is below said first-named cross-bar, extends through the slots in said colunms, and rests on said springs, and front and back arms connected at their lower ends with front and back bars which are outside of said restraining members, a plurality of lmives attached to said last-named bars and arranged and adapted to operate between said restraining members, and mechanism to actuate said blade-holder against the resiliency of said springs to cause said blades to cut through material on said bed beneath said restraining members.

6.111 a cutter of the class described, a

movable blade-holder consisting in part of parallel bars having angular slots in their bottom edges and inner sides, with the portions of the slots that are in the inner sides of said bars extending only part way through the thickness of the same and opening at the bottom into the portions of the slots that arein the under edges of the bars, and blades receivable in said slots.

7. In a cutter of the class described, a blade-holder consisting in part of parallel bars having angular slots in their under edges and inner sides, with the portions of the slots that are in the inner sides of said bars extending only part way through the thickness of the same and opening at the bottom into the portions of the slots that are in the under edges of the bars, and blades receivable in said slots and having notches therein to receive the bottom edges of the slotted parts of said bars.

8. The combination, in a cutter of the class described, with a bed, slotted hollow col umns mounted on said bed, springs in said columns, a cross bar attached to said columns, restraining members depending from said cross-bar and being in spaced relationship, and a bracket depending from said bed, of a blade-holder comprising a cross-bar below said first-named cross-bar, extending through the slots in said columns and beyond the latter, and resting on said springs, arms extending from both sides of said second named cross-bar and extending downwardly, and front and rear bars connecting said arms at their lower terminals, a plurality of blades, attached to said front and rear bars and arranged and adapted to operate in the spaces between said restraining members, a lever pivotally connected with said bracket, and operating bars extending downwardly from said second-named cross-bar and having their lower terminals pivotally connected with said lever.

9. The combination, in a cutter of the class described, with a bed, slotted hollow columns mounted on said bed, springs in said columns, a cross-bar attached to said columns, restraining members depending from said cross bars and being in spaced relationship, and a bracket depending from said bed,

of a blade-holder comprising a cross-bar below said first-named cross-bar, extending through the slots in said columns and beyond the latter, and resting on said springs, arms extending from both sides of saidsecond: named crossbar and extending downwardly, and front and rear bars connecting said arms at their lower terminals, a plurality of blades attached to said front and rear bars and ar ranged and adapted to operate in the spaces between said restraining members, a lever pivotally connected with said bracket, op erating bars extending downwardly from said second-named cross-bar and having their lower terminals pivotally connected with said lever, and pins in said second named cross-bar, said pins being arranged and adapted to hold the cross-bar against longitudinal movement in said slots, and to hold said operating bars against lateral movement onthe cross-bar. HENRY SCHOTT. Witnesses: i E A. CUTTER,

THEO. F. DWIGHT. 

